People and Culture Director

• Aug 2021 - Present

Adjunct Assistant Professor

• Aug 2017 - Dec 2021

•Adjunct instructor for Saint Louis University School of Social Work—teaching one class per semester for graduate-level students •Lead in-class discussions while utilizing written assignments and readings to assess student knowledge of material •Have maintained perfect score in course evaluations of students who would recommend classes to others and 3.8/4 for quality and organization •Adjunct instructor for Saint Louis University School of Social Work—teaching one class per semester for graduate-level students •Lead in-class discussions while utilizing written assignments and readings to assess student knowledge of material •Have maintained perfect score in course evaluations of students who would recommend classes to others and 3.8/4 for quality and organization

HR and Volunteer Program Director

• May 2016 - Aug 2021

•Partnered with agency executives to develop policies focused on flexible scheduling, tuition reimbursement, and paid parental leave—such initiatives resulted in organization being honored as a top workplace for women in Missouri. •Created benefit analysis survey, which was completed by nearly 30 St. Louis-area nonprofits that provided their benefit offerings for analysis. A detailed summary of findings was provided to all participants and recommendations were made to leadership for benefit improvement •Teamed with finance department to select and implement new payroll/HR provider—resulted in moving HR processes to fully electronic platform •Assisted Board of Directors Chairperson in creation of new performance evaluation tool for President/CEO while streamlining evaluation process agency-wide •Developed and released RFP for new insurance broker, resulting in partnership with second largest insurance broker in nation and immediate savings with ancillary lines of coverage •Collaborated with CBIZ to develop Agency’s first salary study; developed communication tools to tactfully inform staff of who would/ would not receive salary market adjustments •Worked with staff to find new ways to increase use of volunteers throughout agency—resulted in 33 percent growth of volunteers year-to year; their service valued at $196,000 •Guided HR interns in creation of Agency’s first strategic plan for volunteer program; plan lays out specific goals and initiatives for next three years •Built relationships with area universities to utilize intern and practicum students throughout organization; resulting in nearly 60 percent increase in interns year-to-year Show less

HR Manager and Deputy City Clerk

• Jul 2015 - Jun 2016

•Created City's first formal recruitment plan, with an emphasis on hiring minority officers and community policing. Plan resulted in a 20% increase in minority hires and provided to U.S. Department of Justice. •Provided oversight of City's ACA compliance, including formulating City's 1095 forms and monitoring hours worked by part-time staff. •Conducted high-profile nationwide search for Chief of Police, creating questionnaires, interview questions/panels and scoring mechanisms. Resulted in the selection of the first permanent Chief in more than two years. •Teamed with finance department to successfully transition to new payroll and HR system--this modernized department by making on/off-boarding process fully electronic. •Worked with City Manager and Council during financial distress to create scenarios involving staff reductions and other budgetary trimming. •Increased communication with staff by creating first-ever City e-newsletter titled "The Ferg." Newsletter focused on improving morale and relations between departments. •Developed policies to ensure compliance with City's Consent Decree with U.S. DOJ, including those related to retaliation, candor and misconduct. •Acted as Secretary of pension board. This included taking minutes, creating agendas and gathering information to formulate pension amounts for departing employees. •Took on role of City Clerk whenever colleague was out of town and when position was vacated. These responsibilities included preparing City Council materials, recording Council minutes and maintaining proper documentation for City elections. Show less

HR Generalist and Volunteer Coordinator

• Jul 2013 - Jul 2015

•Administered semi-monthly payroll for 65-plus employees, totaling $2.2 million per year •Introduced formal recruiting, hiring and termination processes to ensure legal compliance and create uniform practices throughout•Bid-out medical, vision, dental and disability coverage in first year, resulting in $20,000 savings •Managed agency’s first-ever formal volunteer and internship program—increased the number of annual volunteers by 504 percent after just one year•Interviewed, oriented and managed 60-plus volunteers at annual gala that collected over $300,000 in unrestricted funds each year•Increased visibility of EAP program, resulting in 1000 percent growth in voluntary usage •Created and conducted agency’s first-ever employee satisfaction survey; received 3.57 (out of 4) average on employee’s comfort with HR and 3.47 on ability to maintain confidentiality •Introduced agency’s first health and wellness program titled “Wise and Well” •Advocated and gained approval for increase in employee benefits, including domestic partner and part-time benefits, stipends for family coverage and three new lines of voluntary coverage•Wrote, researched and put together agency’s first Policies and Procedures Manual—including policies on Acceptable Use, PTO, Hiring, Drug Testing, Code of Ethics and Workplace Travel•Oversaw IT function for Residential Care Facility, including the process of converting to electronic medical records•Acted as consultant in all personnel matters with program directors, executives and staff Show less

Executive Assistant to the President and Office Manager

• Aug 2012 - Jun 2013

•Acted as gatekeeper and manager for nonprofit with budget of over $6 million and staff near 70•Edited all public materials including compiling monthly President’s Report for board of directors•Provided assistance to board of 30, including daily correspondence and planning regular meetings•Interacted regularly with client base of over 900 to ensure they are compliant to receive housing•Managed volunteers for annual gala that garners a quarter of organization’s private revenue•Supervised $50,000 remodeling project of administrative offices, including developing make-shift work spaces for misplaced employees and choosing new color scheme, furniture and lighting Show less

Capstone Project

• Jan 2012 - May 2012

•Created white paper from 2010 International City/County Management Association Report forStarkville Board of Aldermen and department heads •Generated all charts and graphs to make data easier to analyze and communicate•Presented results and recommendations to city officials for potential passage•Fielded questions from public and city leaders about report’s findings and possible solutions

Teaching Assistant-Dept. of Communication

• Aug 2010 - May 2012

•Oversaw two sections of Introduction to Newswriting-Reporting with 17 students per section•Led in-lab discussion while utilizing tests and quizzes to assess student knowledge of material•Developed curriculum of course in first year including the addition of a social media component•Graded assignments, prepared brief AP Style lectures, and provided out-of-class support •Constantly maintained 4.8/5 average on all student evaluations through 4 semesters

Staff Writer

• Aug 2008 - May 2012

•Generated story ideas and wrote news pieces for twice-weekly student paper •Conducted interviews with city officials, university leaders, and students to enhance content •Performed thorough research for weekly opinion column to create effective arguments •Awarded Mississippi Press Association’s top general interest column for collegiate journalists •Generated story ideas and wrote news pieces for twice-weekly student paper •Conducted interviews with city officials, university leaders, and students to enhance content •Performed thorough research for weekly opinion column to create effective arguments •Awarded Mississippi Press Association’s top general interest column for collegiate journalists

Intern

• May 2011 - Jul 2011

•Constructed, edited, and distributed promotional materials for all organizational events •Coordinated downtown events including festivals and workshops to increase citizen awareness •Developed relationships with city leaders to promote vision of downtown revitalization •Maintained social media presence while developing organization’s guidelines for such use •Helped Initiate marketing campaign for building and business inventory to be used state-wide •Constructed, edited, and distributed promotional materials for all organizational events •Coordinated downtown events including festivals and workshops to increase citizen awareness •Developed relationships with city leaders to promote vision of downtown revitalization •Maintained social media presence while developing organization’s guidelines for such use •Helped Initiate marketing campaign for building and business inventory to be used state-wide

Production Assistant

• Jan 2010 - Mar 2010

•Conducted research and assisted producers with segments that aired nationally •Delivered scripts and notes to high-profile talent nightly for show preparation •Escorted Olympics athletes and celebrity guests to and from show venue •Assisted in formation of show’s set and main offices, including crafting information sheets to help acclimate incoming staff •Sought energetic tourists to participate in on-camera shenanigans •Conducted research and assisted producers with segments that aired nationally •Delivered scripts and notes to high-profile talent nightly for show preparation •Escorted Olympics athletes and celebrity guests to and from show venue •Assisted in formation of show’s set and main offices, including crafting information sheets to help acclimate incoming staff •Sought energetic tourists to participate in on-camera shenanigans

Publications Intern

• May 2008 - Dec 2009

•Crafted monthly e-newsletter highlighting organization’s research findings and members •Simplified highly technical information into easily understood fact sheets for public •Assisted in the coordination of two biofuels conferences in the state’s capital with over 100 attendees per conference •Crafted monthly e-newsletter highlighting organization’s research findings and members •Simplified highly technical information into easily understood fact sheets for public •Assisted in the coordination of two biofuels conferences in the state’s capital with over 100 attendees per conference

Lab Assistant

• Jan 2006 - Dec 2009

•Provided software assistance to staff and students making presentations and publications •Aided library staff members in conducting various software workshops for beginners •Monitored computer lab on nights and weekends while acting as point of contact for patrons •Provided software assistance to staff and students making presentations and publications •Aided library staff members in conducting various software workshops for beginners •Monitored computer lab on nights and weekends while acting as point of contact for patrons

Intern

• May 2009 - Jul 2009

•Helped producers with various segments, including taping, logging, and research •Observed control room daily and aided show’s executives with day-to-day operations •Oversaw front desk while answering viewer’s phone calls and welcoming guests •Categorized video and gathered materials for future segments and television specials •Helped producers with various segments, including taping, logging, and research •Observed control room daily and aided show’s executives with day-to-day operations •Oversaw front desk while answering viewer’s phone calls and welcoming guests •Categorized video and gathered materials for future segments and television specials

Student Director

• Apr 2007 - Apr 2008

•Managed third largest student organization on campus, overseeing its budgets and contracts •Increased membership by over 65% by creating new events with no extra funding •Installed two new committees to executive board, increasing organization’s presence •Managed third largest student organization on campus, overseeing its budgets and contracts •Increased membership by over 65% by creating new events with no extra funding •Installed two new committees to executive board, increasing organization’s presence